Chapter 643: Reclaiming Fiefs

"What!"

As Shang Rong finished speaking, the officials were in an uproar.

Reclaiming the fiefs was one thing, but to stop distributing them entirely—was this to abolish the feudal system?

How could this be!

As ministers of Yin Shang, they all had hopes of being granted fiefs and establishing states.

Who didn't want to carve out a foundation for their descendants?

Consequently, the officials submitted memorials one after another:

"Great King, this must not be done! The feudal system is the law of our ancestors; how can it be changed at will!"

"Great King, this minister wishes to impeach the Chief Assistant Shang Rong; he has ulterior motives, and this is to shake the very foundation of our Great Shang!"

"Great King, if there are no lords to guard the four directions, how can our Great Shang be stable?"

"Great King, this old minister wishes to impeach Shang Rong..."

……

For a time, Shang Rong became the target of public criticism.

Facing the attacks of the officials, Shang Rong looked at his nose and his heart, remaining calm and composed, because he was the most aware of the Great Shang Celestial Dynasty's national strength, and he was also aware of Yin Qi's ambition; these people could not shake Yin Qi's conviction.

As long as Yin Qi's conviction remained unshaken, he would be as stable as Mount Tai.

As for personal reputation,

in the face of national affairs, what did personal gain or loss count for?

"Great King, this old minister agrees with the Prime Minister's policy."

Just then, Bi Gan stood out, firmly supporting Shang Rong.

This world was ultimately the Yin family's.

If Shang Rong could let go, how could he, Bi Gan, hide in the back?

The officials were shocked once again.

Shang Rong and Bi Gan had previously been Di Yi's right-hand men, and in the era of Di Qi, the two still held undiminished power and remained deeply trusted and favored by Di Qi.

If it were just Shang Rong, it would be one thing, but with Bi Gan also supporting it, they had to think carefully about whether this was Yin Qi's intention.

As a member of the royal family, Bi Gan had a fief.

At court, he was also the representative of the royal family.

If the feudal system were abolished, the ones most dissatisfied should actually be the royal family.

Under these circumstances, for Bi Gan to still support reclaiming the fiefs and stopping the distribution was very suspicious.

Consequently, everyone looked at Yin Qi.

They noticed that on Yin Qi's expressionless face, a hint of a smile had actually appeared, and they became even more certain that the Great King intended to abolish the feudal system and was merely using Shang Rong's mouth to say it.

Thinking of this, everyone's thoughts turned rapidly.

In the current Great Shang Celestial Dynasty, Yin Qi's prestige had long reached an unprecedented peak.

If Yin Qi truly wanted to abolish the feudal system, no one could stop him.

Firstly, Yin Qi had this prestige, and secondly, Yin Shang had this strength to suppress all dissatisfaction.

Since that was the case, they had to weigh whether they should still oppose it.

Du Yuanxian stood out next, saying loudly, "Great King, this old minister seconds the motion. Just as the Prime Minister said earlier, the feudal system was implemented previously because the territory was too large to manage. Now that we have teleportation arrays, naturally there is no need to continue the feudal system."

"Great King, this minister seconds the motion."

Yang Ren, Mei Bo, Zhao Qi, Zishi, Yao Zhong, and others stood out one after another to echo the sentiment.

Seeing this, the others could only agree.

"Good!"

Yin Qi smiled broadly and said, "Since that is the case, then follow the Prime Minister's words: reclaim all the fiefs of the lords who participated in the rebellion, establish prefectures and counties, and dispatch officials to manage them.

Furthermore, I do not intend to abolish the feudal system.

It is just that from now on, there will be no more fiefs granted unless there is an extraordinary achievement."

Xiqi had not yet mobilized, and the plan to destroy Ji Chang's reputation was also underway.

If he announced the abolition of the feudal system now, it might cause Xiqi to stop the plan to curse Zhou Ji and choose to mobilize in the name of "upholding the laws of the ancestors."

Therefore, he explicitly stated that he had no intention of abolishing the feudal system, only that it would not be granted lightly.

Hearing this, the officials all felt relieved.

As long as the feudal system wasn't abolished, it was fine.

Shang Rong and Bi Gan looked at each other and nodded with relief; they were afraid Yin Qi would act recklessly.

With "no more fiefs granted unless there is an extraordinary achievement," when the time was ripe in the future, they could take the opportunity to propose the complete abolition of the feudal system.

"Great King, regarding the Feng family..."

An official asked.

The Feng family was different from the Jiang family, because of Yin Qi's favor for Feng Yanran, who in Zhaoge did not know?

Even the Qingzhou rebellion had not affected Feng Yanran.

When they entered the Zichen Hall earlier, they saw Feng Yanran still kneeling outside, having knelt from yesterday until now, supposedly pleading with the Great King to spare the Feng family.

Yin Qi's expression was solemn, his voice clanging, "State law is merciless; how can it be compromised? If even rebellion can be exempted from punishment, where is the majesty of the law?

Pass on my order: all males of the Feng family are to be executed, no need to bring them back to Zhaoge.

As for the females, all are to be demoted to slaves, and they shall not be pardoned even if there is an amnesty."

"Great King!"

Outside the Zichen Hall came Feng Yanran's sorrowful cry.

She was a Heavenly Immortal, and since Yin Qi had not isolated the sound, she naturally heard it clearly.

The officials felt a chill in their hearts.

Yin Qi's image in the past had always been wise and benevolent, but today they finally felt another side of Yin Qi—decisive, cold, and disregarding all sentiment.

One must know that this was an era of rule by man.

The law served the Human Emperor, rather than the Human Emperor obeying the law.

Yin Qi continued, "Order Huang Feihu and Ding Ce, after stabilizing the East, to attack into the Taiyuan Mountain Domain from the north and south lines to pacify the Eastern Yi rebellion; order Wen Zhong to pacify the North Sea rebellion immediately."

Xiqi was on the verge of mobilizing, and he needed a stable external environment.

…………

After the small court meeting, the official accounts of the Yin Shang Express and Douyin released the court's updates.

Soon, the world was in an uproar.

"What, Eastern Lu actually sent a surrender document and surrendered?"

"Although Eastern Lu had great momentum, the strongest person to appear on the battlefield was only a Heavenly Immortal; now that even Jin Ning has been captured alive by the State Preceptor, if they don't surrender, they can just wait to die."

"The Great King said it well: state law is merciless, how can it be compromised? The Fengyun Sect rebelled for their own selfish interests, so they must be prepared for the outcome of death and clan extermination; what does it matter if the Virtuous Consort is favored?"

"Qingzhou has been pacified, Eastern Lu has surrendered, and the court is going to exert effort to pacify the North Sea; next, the world will be at peace."

"Peace, my foot. I heard that Xiqi has long been restless."

……

The Imperial Palace.

Shang Qingjun, Huang Feiyan, and Princess Longji sighed one after another.

This was truly a time of trouble.

Zhou Ji had been plotted against and was in a coma all day, waking up only once every three to five days, which had already left them overwhelmed, and now Feng Yanran was in trouble again.

Kneeling outside the Zichen Hall for a day, not only did she not get Yin Qi to show mercy, but she heard the order to execute all the males of the Feng family.

Subsequently, Feng Yanran was sent back.

Now she was lying on the bed, washing her face with tears, and no amount of persuasion worked.

In fact, they didn't know how to persuade her, nor did they know how to plead for mercy.

This was the crime of treason.

Yin Qi only executing the males of the Feng family and demoting the females to slaves was already an act of grace beyond the law; the usual practice was the extermination of the entire clan.

Huang Feiyan hesitated for a long time before saying to Princess Longji, "Sister, we all know that the Great King favors you the most; why don't you go and plead with the Great King? Even if you don't let the Feng family go, at least leave them a bloodline. As for those Feng family females demoted to slaves, we can buy them with money and find a place to settle them."

Shang Qingjun also said, "Yes. If the Feng family can leave a bloodline, I believe Yanran can overcome the hurdle in her heart, and in the future, she and the Great King can return to good terms; otherwise, I fear they will truly become strangers from now on."

Princess Longji thought for a moment, nodded slowly, and said, "I will try." ===== CHAPTER 644 =====